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Introducing: Piquadro, 1286 Bay Street (Image: Fraser Abe)
The place: Piquadro has over 100 stores in Europe, Asia and Russia, but this is the Italian luggage retailer’s first North American shop. The interior feels like a modern airport, with photos of planes and runways strewn about, and wall accents printed with travel-associated words like “arrivals, departures and city” (not to mention the Pearson line of luggage as a nod to Toronto shoppers).
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By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and we’ve tackled the ever-difficult task of narrowing down a list of items that would be perfect for the men, women and children in your life. We find it is always a big to-do finding that special something for the wine snob who likes to aerate his or her wine, but we’ve got it covered, and to spare moms, dads, uncles, aunts and friends from waiting in line for this year’s Tickle Me Elmo, we’ve found some cool options for rug rats that won’t break down and send a greedy child into a tantrum. Check out the 90 presents that make up our 2011 ultimate holiday gift guide in a gallery after the jump »
By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
Pay no attention to what the advertisers tell you: there’s no gift “perfect for every woman in your life.” Still, we’re pretty sure discerning females will find a few things on this list to love. As the winter drags on, a Philip Lim muffler is sure to get a lot of use (and envious glares), and for women with a style all their own, we’ll show you where you can mix some custom fragrances. Finally, for that very special lady, we have a diamond necklace that won’t break the bank. Check out 18 gifts that are sure to make any gal smile in a gallery after the jump »
By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
We can’t all be glamorous jet-setters and playboys, skipping across the globe to test the slopes of Whistler, Kitzbühel and Les Arcs all in a single week. But for the trips your loved ones can take, they can do it in style with a high-performance pair of electric blue Salomon skis, a quality Olympus E-P3 camera and a sharp—and pocket-friendly—travel toothbrush. We even found some great maps that never crease no matter how much you abuse them (seriously). Check out all 19 of our travel and playtime essentials in a gallery after the jump »
By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
The big-ticket items are what we’re all hoping to get for the holidays, and sometimes we’re special enough to be the recipient of one or two. So in the spirit of giving, we take a look at the high end of giving (no boats or cars to be found): a beautiful handbag for a fashionista, a great shoreman’s jacket for a stylish dude and a synth keyboard for an aspiring (or professional) musician. Check out our selection of 11 gifts that are $500 and more in a gallery after the jump »
Erin Karpluk’s purse (Image: David Pike)
There are certain things we always imagined Erica Strange’s purse would contain: wigs for time-travel sleuthing, an Epipen for her hazelnut allergy, a copy of The Secret of Now. But it turns out the real-life Erica, Erin Karpluk, sticks to the necessities. Check out what we found while rifling through her handbag.
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Black is always in style, but espresso is the colour for handbags this fall (that means there’s a brown undertone, like hair with lowlights). We know it isn’t fall yet (we’ve been outside), but during our endless hours of shopping, it has become clear that fall and pre-fall items are slowly creeping into stores, like the worst kind of autumnal tease (oh, and since we’re still sweating the summer, there’s a good chance a 50 to 70 per cent off summer sale is within throwing distance).
A store’s first shipment is always the strongest, showcasing the season’s hottest trends that won’t stay on the shelves for long, so those stressed out about not having an “it bag” should go now, while others can wait until a cold shower starts to feel cold again. While in search of a Popsicle, we walked by Ossington’s Jonathan and Olivia and found this Alexander Wang deep brown “Robyn” hobo/bucket bag; we love the meticulous construction, the hand feel of the soft, thick leather and the chunky chrome hardware finishing each corner. We also like how it could be a weapon on those lonely nights walking down Ossington after a few drinks. $1,095.
Jonathan and Olivia, 49 Ossington Ave., 416-849-5956, jonathanandolivia.com.
For Luxury Labels
Venture a few blocks north of Yorkville to Haute Classics for immaculate second-hand pieces sourced from very tony closets. Chanel, Chloé, Dior and Christian Louboutin (patent sapphire pumps for $270 instead of $700-plus) are priced in the hundreds, rather than the thousands.
946 Yonge St., 416-922-7900.
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Parkdale’s House of Vintage has outstanding men’s garb—a rarity on the old-is-new circuit. Dudes can put together a Michael Caine Alfie look with ankle boots ($60) and a Pierre Cardin blazer ($50).
1239 Queen St. W., 416-535-2142.
Toronto's plastic bags may go from fee to free (Image: Carolina Naftali)
Back during the 2010 mayoral election, Rob Ford was asked what he thought of the five cents plastic bag fee by the Toronto Sun, and said he’d kill it. That was in August. By late September, he was qualifying things and saying he might only redirect the nickel charge to something else (something the city cannot do). Well, the New Year is here and the mayor has come back to where he started, and believes the five-cent bag fee has to die. Just one bag snag: the surcharge might not be that easy to kill.
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Two doors down from Gee Beauty, 6 is a luxury travel boutique
The place: Sisters Celene, Natalie and Stephanie Gee and mother Miriam have opened a travel-essentials shop two doors down from their Gee Beauty salon. With deep chocolate hardwood floors, sunny walls, bleached coral accessories and oversized luggage, the place feels so much like a tropical cabana we were tempted to ask for a mojito. You can even work on a sun-kissed glow in a spray-tanning booth by St. Tropez, administered by the Gee girls ($50).
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Left: Robber’s shirt-dress, Chasse Gardée’s sandal, Ella and Elliot’s dishware for kids, Harry Rosen’s cufflinks; Right: Canuck kitsch at the Drake General Store (Image: photographs by Jay Shuster; cufflinks courtesy of Harry Rosen)
The strip of Dundas West between Ossington and Lansdowne has not been immune to the wild gentrification going on directly south of it. New restaurants, stores and bars have been cropping up for the past couple of years (Red Canoe, a swank Canadiana shop, opened two weeks ago), but there is a hesitation in the ’hood to turn Little Portugal and Brockton Village into the next Ossington. Incoming business owners make a point of blending in with the long-standing family-owned bakeries, soccer bars and pho stops. Even in new establishments, the decor has a thrift shop feel, and the prices cater to locals rather than destination diners. From east to west, here are our 21 favourite Dundas West spots for cheap eats, good music and authentic Portuguese cuisine.
Over the past few years, HBC‘s Olympic mittens and the Drake Hotel General Store have helped raise Canadiana from kitsch to cool. We’re not surprised, then, to find the first retail outlet of Red Canoe on one of Toronto’s coolest strips: Dundas West. Founded eight years ago by Sudbury native Dax Wilkinson, Red Canoe revels in northern Ontario vintage. Though they have been compared to what’s found at Roots, Wilkinson’s designs are more emblematic of old-school Sault Ste. Marie than posh Muskoka cottages. The showroom is decorated with vintage trinkets like military trundles and leather-cased cameras.
Much of the store pays homage to Wilkinson’s aviation fetish (the de Havilland logo, Wilkinson says, is the “Harley-Davidson of Canada”): ’40s and ’50s-era photographs of bush planes; black canvas bomber jackets ($150); sweaters ($90) and T-shirts ($32.50) featuring the Royal Canadian Air Force insignia. RCAF tartan scarves ($30) can pair with preppy merino wool sweaters ($160) or slate-grey wool blazers ($370) for a dashing Pierre Berton look.
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The east end’s main thoroughfare has long been known for two things: Greek food and the Taste of the Danforth. Over the past many years, though, homebuyers drawn to the subway line have slowly turned the long strip of two-storey brick buildings into a bustling neighbourhood that has attracted a rich selection of fine shops, independent coffee houses, Thai joints and haute cuisine restaurants. The Danforth has reached a wonderful maturity that we think should be celebrated. Here are 21 of the best reasons to cross the viaduct.
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